Tonight marks the start of NavRatri - the Nine Nights of Goddess Durga. In North Indian tradition, we mark each one of the Nine as being dedicated to a particular NavaDurga Aspect of MataDI; whereas in South India, it is more common to regard it as three sets of three days apiece - one for … Continue reading Navratri – The Nine Nights of Goddess Durga
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Pitru Paksha – The Fortnight of the Ancestors
Today marks the commencement of Pitru Paksha - the Fortnight of the Ancestors. This is an ancient Hindu custom whose core elements will be immediately familiar to you. Partially due to the existence of somewhat comparable observances in Western European cultures such as the Celts and the Romans (such as the strikingly similar annual 'Parentalia' … Continue reading Pitru Paksha – The Fortnight of the Ancestors
“Cyclone Mahavatya Rudra” Jai
I've seen a bit of chatter on here about the naming conventions for cyclones/hurricanes in the US/Caribbean - and, in particular, how these may possibly be both sexist AND ineffectual, on grounds that the average American apparently finds storms with female names less threatening [thus leading to reduced readiness, and often a higher death toll … Continue reading “Cyclone Mahavatya Rudra” Jai
Make Afghanistan Gandhara Again
I have been told I bear a certain resemblance to this chap. Sculpted head of a Brahmin of the area now known as Afghanistan, dating from the 3rd-4th century A.D. It may seem somewhat curious to us now - when Afghanistan is mostly known to us as the area upon this Earth where "empires go … Continue reading Make Afghanistan Gandhara Again
“Loud May We Speak, With Heroes In Assembly” – An Indo-European Reflection On ANZAC Day
[pictured: a parade of New Zealand veterans of the Gallipoli campaign - the original ANZACs - ANZAC Day 1958] I wrote this on ANZAC Day last year after I got home from Temple [there are, no doubt, some rather interesting potential resonances to be explored in it having been Hanuman's Day; particularly given the symbolism … Continue reading “Loud May We Speak, With Heroes In Assembly” – An Indo-European Reflection On ANZAC Day
MahaShivRatri 2018
Tonight marks the most important Shaivite holy-"day" of the year. Maha ShivRatri - the "Great Night of Shiva". Various sources give slightly differing accounts as to the mythic significance and origins of the Night's place in our religion; with two of the more prominent being that it commemorates the reunification of Lord Shiva and Lady … Continue reading MahaShivRatri 2018
On The Ongoing Woeful Misappropriation Of Kali Ma When Western Metapolitical Commentators Write About Kali Yuga
I am pretty annoyed right now at the ongoing attempts at misusing Goddess Kali as part of attempted metapolitical [and often outright metaphysical political] 'analysis'. Now to be sure, I am NOT against folk attempting to incorporate religious understandings of the world into their politics. I do it all the time. I encourage others … Continue reading On The Ongoing Woeful Misappropriation Of Kali Ma When Western Metapolitical Commentators Write About Kali Yuga
‘Occasionalism’ in the thought of Al-Ghazali & The Bhagavad Gita
A curious 7 a.m thought for a Sunday morning, about the nature of 'Causality'. Now, the standard paradigm for understanding why things happen is a non-metaphysical one. It basically goes "somebody/something performs an action, it has an effect". This is so straightforward it doesn't even really require stating. We just *know* it implicitly. But as … Continue reading ‘Occasionalism’ in the thought of Al-Ghazali & The Bhagavad Gita
Vishvarupa Darshan
As is well known, I am not a Vaishnavite, nor a Krishna-bhakt. And, in point of fact, the traditional rivalry of Shaivites with these is common knowledge. But it is difficult to look upon this image - for me, anyway - and not feel something. It depicts the portion from Bhagavad Gita wherein Arjuna asks … Continue reading Vishvarupa Darshan
Caste and the Origin of the Races of Man
Contrary to many popular notions that are perpetuated by Hollywood and the public, the Germanic people (Of which Vikings are but a subgroup) were not an anarchic people composed wholly of warriors or grunting savages in poorly constructed huts, who held strong notions of liberty and equality, with 1-1 ratios of men and women in … Continue reading Caste and the Origin of the Races of Man
arya-akasha 